The New England Patriots will look very different on defense this season.
After losing both Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy at the linebacker position to free agency, the captain of Bill Belichick’s unit has decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign due to Coronavirus concerns. Dont’a Hightower, a former first-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, will not play this year — according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss.
Patriots’ three-time Super-Bowl champion and Pro-Bowl ILB Dont’a Hightower is opting out of the 2020 season, league sources tell ESPN.